Оглавление

Оруэлл, Джордж.

1984: книга для чтения на английском языке.

Предлагается вниманию читателей знаменитый роман-антиутопия английского писателя Джорджа Оруэлла «1984», в котором он изобразил возможное будущее человечества как тоталитарный иерархический строй, основанный на изощренном физическом и духовном порабощении, пронизанный всеобщим страхом и ненавистью.

Полный неадаптированный текст романа снабжен комментарием. Построчный перевод отдельных слов и выражений введен Кашаповым Уралом. Перевод существительных дан в единственном или множественном лице в именительном падеже; перевод глаголов прошедшего времени представлен как они есть, но в мужском роде в единственном числе; прилагательные даются в единственном числе мужского рода. Следует обращать внимание на причастия и деепричастия.

Для всех изучающих английский язык и любителей современной английской литературы.

Part I

Chapter I

It was a bright cold day in April, and the clocks were striking thirteen. Winston Smith, his chin (подбородок) nuzzled (уткнулся) into his breast (грудь) in an effort to escape (избежать) the vile (мерзкий) wind, slipped (проскользнувший) quickly through the glass doors of Victory Mansions (дворец), though not quickly enough to prevent a swirl (водоворот) of gritty (песчаный) dust (пыль) from entering along with him.

The hallway (коридор) smelt (вонял) of boiled (варенный) cabbage (капуста) and old rag (тряпичный) mats (коврики). At one end of it a coloured poster (плакат), too large for indoor display (помещение), had been tacked (был прикреплен) to the wall. It depicted (изображал) simply an enormous face, more than a metre wide: the face of a man of about forty-five, with a heavy (тяжелый) black moustache (усы) and ruggedly (грубо) handsome (красивый) features. Winston made for the stairs[1] (направился к лестнице). It was no use trying the lift. Even at the best of times it was seldom working, and at present the electric current (электричество) was cut off (было отрезано) during daylight hours. It was part of the economy drive in preparation for Hate Week. The flat (квартира) was seven flights up (на седьмом этаже), and Winston, who was thirty-nine and had a varicose (варикозный) ulcer (язва) above his right ankle (лодыжка), went slowly, resting several times on the way. On each landing (площадка), opposite the lift-shaft (лифтная шахта), the poster with the enormous face gazed (смотрел) from the wall. It was one of those pictures which are so contrived (задуман) that the eyes follow you about when you move. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption (надпись) beneath (под) it ran.

Inside the flat a fruity (сочный) voice (голос) was reading out a list of figures which had something to do with the production of pig-iron (чугун). The voice came from an oblong (продолговатый) metal plaque (диск) like a dulled (мутный) mirror (зеркало) which formed part of the surface (поверхность) of the right-hand wall. Winston turned a switch and the voice sank (затонул) somewhat (в некотором роде), though the words were still distinguishable (различимый). The instrument (the telescreen, it was called) could be dimmed (притушен), but there was no way of shutting (отключение) it off completely. He moved over to the window: a smallish (маленькая), frail (хрупкая) figure, the meagreness (скудость) of his body merely (просто) emphasized (подчеркивался) by the blue overalls (комбинезон) which were the uniform of the party. His hair was very fair (русый), his face naturally sanguine (румяный), his skin roughened (шереховатый) by coarse (грубый) soap and blunt (тупой) razor (бритва) blades (лезвие) and the cold of the winter that had just ended.

Outside, even through the shut (закрытый) window-pane (оконное стекло), the world looked cold. Down in the street little eddies (водовороты) of wind were whirling (кружащийся) dust (пыль) and torn (разорванный) paper into spirals, and though the sun was shining (светило) and the sky a harsh (сурово) blue, there seemed to be no colour in anything, except the posters that were plastered (расклеен) everywhere. The blackmoustachio’d (черноусый) face gazed down (смотрел) from every commanding (заметный) corner. There was one on the house-front immediately opposite. BIG BROTHER IS WATCHING YOU, the caption said, while the dark eyes looked deep into Winston’s own. Down at street level another poster, torn (разорванный) at one corner, flapped (трепался) fitfully (судорожно) in the wind, alternately (попеременно) covering and uncovering (раскрывая и закрывая) the single word INGSOC. In the far distance a helicopter skimmed down (пролетел вниз) between the roofs (крыши), hovered (парил) for an instant (момент) like a bluebottle (трупная мушка), and darted away (метнулся прочь) again with a curving (изгиб) flight (полет). It was the police patrol, snooping (заглядывающий) into people’s windows. The patrols did not matter (не имел значение), however. Only the Thought Police mattered.

Behind Winston’s back the voice from the telescreen was still babbling away (болтал) about pig-iron and the overfulfilment (перевыполнение) of the Ninth Three-Year Plan. The telescreen received (получал) and transmitted (передавал) simultaneously (одновременно). Any sound that Winston made, above the level of a very low whisper (шепот), would be picked up (подобрал) by it, moreover (более того), so long as he remained (оставался) within the field of vision which the metal plaque commanded, he could be seen as well as heard. There was of course no way of knowing whether you were being watched at any given moment. How often, or on what system, the Thought Police plugged (подключал) in on any individual wire (провод) was guesswork (догадка). It was even conceivable (мыслимый) that they watched everybody all the time. But at any rate (случай) they could plug (затыкать) in your wire (провод) whenever (когда бы ни) they wanted to. You had to live — did live, from habit (привычка) that became instinct — in the assumption (предположение) that every sound you made was overheard (подслушан), and, except in darkness, every movement scrutinized (тщательно исследован).

Winston kept his back turned to the telescreen. It was safer (безопаснее), though, as he well knew, even a back can be revealing (раскрыт). A kilometre away the Ministry of Truth, his place of work, towered (возвышался) vast and white above the grimy (грязный) landscape. This, he thought with a sort (своего рода) of vague (расплывчатый) distaste (отвращение) — this was London, chief city of Airstrip (взлетно-посадочная полоса) One, itself the third most populous of the provinces of Oceania. He tried to squeeze out (выдавить) some childhood memory that should tell him whether London had always been quite like this. Were there always these vistas (вереницы) of rotting (обветшалый) nineteenth-century houses, their sides shored up (укреплен) with baulks (балки) of timber (древесина), their windows patched (залатаный) with cardboard (картон) and their roofs (крышы) with corrugated (рифленный) iron, their crazy garden walls sagging (провисающий) in all directions? And the bombed sites where the plaster (штукатурочный) dust (пыль) swirled (кружился) in the air and the willow- herb (кипрей) straggled (заблудился) over the heaps (кучи) of rubble (щебень); and the places where the bombs had cleared a larger patch (пластырь) and there had sprung up (возник вверх) sordid (грязный) colonies of wooden (деревяный) dwellings (жилища) like chicken- houses (курятники)? But it was no use, he could not remember: nothing remained of his childhood except a series of brightlit (ярко освещенный) tableaux (таблицы) occurring (происходящий) against no background (без фона) and mostly unintelligible (неразборчивый).

The Ministry of Truth-Minitrue, in Newspeak — was startlingly (поразительно) different from any other object in sight (в поле зрения). It was an enormous pyramidal structure of glittering (блестящий) white concrete (конкретный), soaring up (взмывающее вверх), terrace after terrace, 300 metres into the air. From where Winston stood it was just (просто) possible to read, picked out (выбрал) on its white face in elegant (элегантный) lettering, the three slogans of the Party:

The Ministry of Truth contained (содержал), it was said, three thousand rooms above ground level, and corresponding (соответствующий) ramifications (разветвления) below. Scattered (разбросанный) about London there were just three other buildings of similar appearance (внешность) and size (размер). So completely did they dwarf (карлик) the surrounding architecture that from the roof of Victory Mansions you could see all four of them simultaneously (одновременно). They were the homes of the four Ministries between which the entire apparatus of government was divided. The Ministry of Truth, which concerned itself (занимавшееся) with news, entertainment (развлечения), education, and the fine (изящный) arts. The Ministry of Peace, which concerned itself with war. The Ministry of Love, which maintained (поддерживал) law and order. And the Ministry of Plenty (изобилие), which was responsible for economic affairs. Their names, in Newspeak: Minitrue, Minipax, Miniluv, and Miniplenty.

The Ministry of Love was the really frightening (пугающий) one. There were no windows in it at all. Winston had never been inside the Ministry of Love, nor within half a kilometre of it. It was a place impossible to enter except on official business, and then only by penetrating (проникнув) through a maze (лабиринт) of barbedwire (колючая проволока) entanglements (заграждения), steel doors, and hidden (скрытый) machine-gun nests (пулеметные гнезда). Even the streets leading up to its outer (внешний) barriers (ограждения) were roamed (бродил) by gorilla-faced guards in black uniforms, armed with jointed (шарнирный) truncheons (дубинка).

Winston turned round abruptly (резко). He had set (придал) his features into the expression of quiet optimism which it was advisable (целесообразно) to wear (носить) when facing the telescreen. He crossed the room into the tiny (крошечный) kitchen. By leaving the Ministry at this time of day he had sacrificed (пожертвовал) his lunch in the canteen (столовая), and he was aware (знал) that there was no food in the kitchen except a hunk (кусок) of dark-coloured bread which had got to be saved for tomorrow’s breakfast. He took down from the shelf a bottle of colourless liquid (жидкость) with a plain white label marked VICTORY GIN. It gave off (исходил) a sickly (тошнотворный), oily smell (маслянистый запах), as of Chinese rice-spirit[2]. Winston poured out (налил) nearly a teacupful (полная чашка), nerved himself for a shock (приготовился к шоку), and gulped (проглотил) it down like a dose of medicine.

Instantly (мгновенно) his face turned scarlet (стал багровым) and the water ran out of his eyes. The stuff (вещество) was like nitric acid (азотная кислота), and moreover, in swallowing it (при глотании) one had the sensation (ощущение) of being hit (удар) on the back of the head with a rubber club (резиновая дубинка). The next moment, however, he burning (жжение) in his belly (живот) died down and the world began to look more cheerful (веселее). He took a cigarette from a crumpled (смятый) packet marked VICTORY CIGARETTES and incautiously (неосторожно) held it upright (поднял), whereupon (после чего) the tobacco fell out on to the floor (пол). With the next he was more successful. He went back to the living-room (гостиная) and sat down at a small table that stood to the left of the telescreen. From the table drawer (ящик стола) he took out a penholder, a bottle of ink (пузырек с чернилами), and a thick (толстый), quarto-sized (размером в четверть) blank book (чистая книга) with a red back (обложка) and a marbled (мраморный) cover.

For some reason (по какой-то причине) the telescreen in the living-room was in an unusual position. Instead of being (вместо того) placed, as was normal, in the end wall, where it could command (наблюдать) the whole room, it was in the longer wall, opposite the window. To one side of it there was a shallow (неглубокий) alcove in which Winston was now sitting, and which, when the flats were built, had probably been intended (предназначался) to hold bookshelves. By sitting in the alcove, and keeping well back, Winston was able to remain outside the range (за пределами поля зрения) of the telescreen, so far as sight went (насколько хватало взгляда). He could be heard, of course, but so long as he stayed in his present position he could not be seen. It was partly (отчасти) the unusual geography of the room that had suggested (предложил) to him the thing that he was now about to do.

But it had also been suggested (указывал) by the book that he had just (только что) taken out of the drawer (ящик). It was a peculiarly (необыкновенно) beautiful book. Its smooth (гладкий) creamy (кремовый) paper, a little yellowed by age, was of a kind that had not been manufactured for at least forty years past. He could guess (догадаться), however, that the book was much older than that. He had seen it lying in the window of a frowsy (захудалый) little junk-shop (лавка старьевщика) in a slummy (трущобный) quarter of the town (just what quarter he did not now remember) and had been stricken (охватил) immediately by an overwhelming (непреодолимый) desire (желание) to possess (обладать) it. Party members were supposed (предполагался) not to go into ordinary shops (’dealing (торговля) on the free market’, it was called), but the rule was not strictly (строго) kept, because there were various (разный) things, such as shoelaces (шнурки) and razor blades, which it was impossible to get hold of in any other way. He had given a quick (быстро) glance up and down (оглядел) the street and then had slipped (проскользнул) inside and bought the book for two dollars fifty. At the time he was not conscious (осознавал) of wanting it for any particular (конкретный) purpose. He had carried it guiltily (виновато) home in his briefcase (портфель). Even with nothing written in it, it was a compromising possession (владение).

The thing that he was about to do (собирался сделать) was to open a diary (дневник). This was not illegal (nothing was illegal, since there were no longer any laws), but if detected it was reasonably (разумно) certain (определено) that it would be punished by death, or at least by twentyfive years in a forced-labour camp[3]. Winston fitted (вставил) a nib (кончик) into the penholder and sucked (пососал) it to get the grease off (смыть жир). The pen was an archaic instrument, seldom used even for signatures (подписи), and he had procured one (раздобыл), furtively (украдкой) and with some difficulty, simply because of a feeling that the beautiful creamy (кремовый) paper deserved (заслуживал) to be written on with a real nib (перо) instead of being scratched (царапал) with an ink-pencil (чернильный карандаш). Actually he was not used to writing by hand. Apart from (за исключением) very short notes, it was usual to dictate everything into the speak-write which was of course impossible for his present purpose. He dipped (обмакнул) the pen into the ink and then faltered (запнулся) for just (просто) a second. A tremor (дрожь) had gone through his bowels (внутренности). To mark (пометить) the paper was the decisive (решающий) act. In small clumsy (корявый) letters he wrote:

April 4th, 1984

He sat back. A sense of complete helplessness had descended upon (опустился на) him. To begin with, he did not know with any certainty (уверенность) that this was 1984. It must be round about that date, since (поскольку) he was fairly (вполне) sure (уверен) that his age was thirty-nine, and he believed that he had been born in 1944 or 1945; but it was never possible nowadays (наше время) to pin down (определить) any date within a year or two.

For whom (для кого), it suddenly occurred (пришел) to him to wonder (удивление), was he writing this diary? For the future, for the unborn (нерожденные). His mind hovered (завис) for a moment round the doubtful date on the page, and then fetched up (собрался) with a bump (толчок) against the Newspeak word DOUBLETHINK. For the first time (впервые) the magnitude (масштаб) of what he had undertaken (предпринял) came home to him[4]. How could you communicate with the future? It was of its nature impossible. Either (или) the future would resemble (напоминать) the present, in which case it would not listen to him: or it would be different from it, and his predicament (затруднительное положение) would be meaningless (бессмысленный).

For some time he sat gazing (уставившись) stupidly at the paper. The telescreen had changed over (переключился) to strident (резкий) military music. It was curious (любопытно) that he seemed not merely to have lost the power of expressing himself, but even to have forgotten what it was that he had originally intended (намеревался) to say. For weeks past he had been making ready for this moment, and it had never crossed his mind that anything would be needed except courage (мужество). The actual writing would be easy. All he had (все, что ему нужно было) to do was to transfer to paper the interminable (бесконечный) restless (беспокойный) monologue that had been running inside his head, literally for years. At this moment, however, even the monologue had dried up (иссяк). Moreover his varicose ulcer had begun itching (зудеть) unbearably (нестерпимо). He dared (решался) not scratch (почесать) it, because if he did so it always became inflamed (воспалялся). The seconds were ticking by (тикал). He was conscious of nothing (он не осознавал ничего) except the blankness (пустота) of the page in front of him, the itching (зуд) of the skin above his ankle (лодыжка), the blaring (грохот) of the music, and a slight (немного) booziness (опьянение) caused (вызванный) by the gin (джинн).

Suddenly he began writing in sheer (полный) panic, only imperfectly aware of (плохо понимая) what he was setting down (устанавливал). His small but childish handwriting (почерк) straggled up and down (путался) the page, shedding (теряя) first its capital letters and finally even its full stops (точки):

April 4th, 1984.

Last night to the flicks[5]. All war films. One very good one of a ship (корабль) full of refugees (беженцы) being bombed somewhere in the Mediterranean (Средиземном море). Audience (аудитория) much amused (позабавил) by shots (кадры) of a great huge fat (огромный жир) man trying to swim away (уплыть) with a helicopter after him, first you saw him wallowing along (барахтается) in the water like a porpoise (морская свинья), then you saw him through the helicopters gunsights (прицел), then he was full of holes (дыры) and the sea round him turned pink (розовый) and he sank (утонул) as suddenly as though the holes (дыры) had let in the water, audience shouting with laughter (смех). when he sank (тонул). then you saw a lifeboat (спасательная шлюпка) full of children with a helicopter hovering (висел) over it. There was a middle-aged woman might have been a jewess sitting up in the bow (носовая часть) with a little boy about three years old in her arms. little boy screaming (кричал) with fright (от страха) and hiding (прятал) his head between her breasts as if he was trying to burrow (зарыться) right into her and the woman putting (обнимал) her arms round him and comforting (успокаивал) him although she was blue with fright (от страха) herself, all the time covering him up as much as possible as if she thought her arms could keep the bullets off (от пуль) him. Then the helicopter planted a 20 kilo bomb in among them terrific (потрясающий) flash (вспышка) and the boat went all to matchwood (спички). Then there was a wonderful shot of a child’s arm going up up up right up into the air a helicopter with a camera in its nose must have followed it up and there was a lot of applause (аплодисменты) from the party seats but a woman down in the prole (проловый —

пролетарский) part of the house suddenly started kicking up a fuss (поднимать шум) and shouting they didnt oughter (не должны были) of showed it not in front of kids (при детях) they didnt it aint (правильно) right not in front of kids it aint until the police turned her turned her out i dont suppose anything happened to her nobody cares (волнует) what the proles (пролов) say typical prole reaction they never —

Winston stopped writing, partly because he was suffering (страдания) from cramp (судорога). He did not know what had made him pour (излить) out this stream (поток) of rubbish (мусор). But the curious (любопытное) thing was that while he was doing so a totally different memory had clarified (прояснился) itself in his mind, to the point where he almost felt (почувствовал) equal (вправе) to writing it down. It was, he now realized, because of this other incident that he had suddenly decided to come at home and begin the diary today.

It had happened that morning at the Ministry, if anything so nebulous (туманный) could be said to happen.

It was nearly eleven hundred[6], and in the Records Department, where Winston worked, they were dragging (вытаскивал) the chairs (стулья) out of the cubicles (кабинки) and grouping (расставлял) them in the centre of the hall opposite the big telescreen, in preparation for the Two Minutes Hate. Winston was just taking his place in one of the middle rows (ряды) when two people whom he knew by sight (в лицо), but had never spoken to, came unexpectedly (неожиданно) into the room. One of them was a girl whom he often passed in the corridors. He did not know her name, but he knew that she worked in the Fiction Department (отделе художественной литературы). Presumably (предположительно) — since he had sometimes seen her with oily (замасленный) hands and carrying a spanner (гаечный ключ) — she had some mechanical job on one of the novel-writing (машина для написания романов.) machines. She was a bold-looking (дерзкий вид) girl, of about twenty-seven, with thick (густой) hair, a freckled (веснушчатый) face, and swift (быстрый), athletic movements. A narrow (узкий) scarlet (алый) sash (поясок), emblem of the Junior Anti-Sex League, was wound several times round the waist (талия) of her overalls (комбинезон), just tightly (туго) enough to bring out the shapeliness (стройность) of her hips (бедра). Winston had disliked (невзлюбил) her from the very first moment of seeing her. He knew the reason. It was because of the atmosphere of hockey-fields (хоккейные поля) and cold baths (ванны) and community hikes (походы) general clean-mindedness (чистоплотность) which she managed (умудрялся) to carry about with her. He disliked nearly all women, and especially the young and pretty (красивый) ones. It was always the women, and above all (прежде всего) the young ones, who were the most bigoted (фанатичный) adherents (приверженцы) of the Party, the swallowers (глотатели) of slogans, the amateur (любители) spies (шпионы) and nosers-out (лазутчики) of unorthodoxy (неортодоксы). But this particular (в частности) girl gave him the impression of being more dangerous than most. Once when they passed in the corridor she gave him a quick sidelong (вбок) glance (взгляд) which seemed to pierce right into him and for a moment had filled him with black terror. The idea had even crossed his mind that she might be an agent of the Thought Police. That, it was true, was very unlikely (маловероятно). Still (все же), he continued to feel a peculiar (особый) uneasiness (беспокойство), which had fear mixed up (примешивался) in it as well as hostility (враждебность), whenever she was anywhere near him.

The other person was a man named O’Brien, a member of the Inner (внутренней) Party and holder of some post so important and remote (отдаленный) that Winston had only a dim (тусклый) idea of its nature. A momentary hush (тишина) passed over the group of people round the chairs as they saw the black overalls (комбинезон) of an Inner Party member approaching (приближающийся). O’Brien was a large, burly (крепкий) man with a thick (толстый) neck (шея) and a coarse (грубый), humorous (забавный), brutal face. In spite (несмотря) of his formidable (грозный) appearance (вид) he had a certain charm of manner. He had a trick (уловка) of resettling (пересаживать) his spectacles (очки) on his nose which was curiously (необычайно) disarming (обезоруживал) — in some indefinable (неопределимый) way, curiously (любопытно) civilized. It was a gesture (жест) which, if anyone had still thought in such terms, might have recalled (напомнить) an eighteenth- century nobleman (дворянин) offering (предлагающий) his snuffbox (табакерка). Winston had seen O’Brien perhaps (наверное) a dozen times in almost as many years. He felt deeply drawn (глубокое влечение) to him, and not solely (только) because he was intrigued (заинтригован) by the contrast between O’Brien’s urbane (вежливый) manner and his prize-fighter’s physique (телосложение). Much more (гораздо больше) it was because of a secretly held belief — or perhaps not even a belief, merely (просто) a hope — that O’Brien’s political orthodoxy was not perfect. Something in his face suggested (подсказывал) it irresistibly (неотразимо). And again, perhaps (возможно) it was not even unorthodoxy that was written in his face, but simply intelligence. But at any rate (случай) he had the appearance (впечатление) of being a person that you could talk to if somehow you could cheat (обмануть) the telescreen and get him alone (остаться с ним наедине). Winston had never made the smallest effort to verify this guess (догадка): indeed (на самом деле), there was no way of doing so. At this moment O’Brien glanced (взглянул) at his wrist-watch (наручные часы), saw that it was nearly eleven hundred, and evidently decided to stay in the Records Department until the Two Minutes Hate was over (закончился). He took a chair in the same row (ряд) as Winston, a couple (пара) of places away (дальше). A small, sandy-haired (рыжеватый волос) woman who worked in the next cubicle (кабинка) to Winston was between them. The girl with dark hair was sitting immediately behind. The next moment a hideous (отвратительный), grinding (скрежещущий) speech, as of some monstrous machine running without oil, burst (раздался) from the big telescreen at the end of the room. It was a noise that set one’s teeth on edge (зубы на грани, стиснули зубы) and bristled (зашевелился) the hair at the back of one’s neck (затылок). The Hate had started.

As usual, the face of Emmanuel Goldstein, the Enemy of the People, had flashed (мелькнул) on to the screen. There were hisses (шипение) here and there among the audience. The little sandy-haired woman gave a squeak (взвизгнул) of mingled (смесь) fear and disgust (отвращение). Goldstein was the renegade and backslider (отступник) who once, long ago (how long ago, nobody quite remembered), had been one of the leading figures of the Party, almost on a level with Big Brother himself, and then had engaged (занимался) in counter revolutionary activities, had been condemned (приговорен) to death, and had mysteriously escaped (бежал) and disappeared. The programmes of the Two Minutes Hate varied from day to day, but there was none in which Goldstein was not the principal figure. He was the primal (первобытным) traitor (предатель) the earliest defiler (осквернителем) of the Party’s purity (чистота). All subsequent (последующий) crimes against the Party, all treacheries (предательство), acts of sabotage, heresies (ересь), deviations (уклоны), sprang (вытекал) directly out of his teaching. Somewhere or other (где-то) he was still alive and hatching (вынашивал) his conspiracies (заговоры): perhaps somewhere beyond the sea, under the protection of his foreign paymasters, perhaps even — so it was occasionally (иногда) rumoured (ходили слухи) — in some hidingplace (тайник) in Oceania itself.

Winston’s diaphragm was constricted (сужен). He could never see the face of Goldstein without a painful mixture (болезненная смесь) of emotions. It was a lean (худощавый) Jewish face, with a great fuzzy (пушистый) aureole of white hair and a small goatee beard[7] — a clever face, and yet (в то же время) somehow (как-то) inherently (по своей сути) despicable (презренный), with a kind of senile (до сих пор) silliness (глупость) in the long thin (тонкий) nose, near the end of which a pair (пара) of spectacles (очки) was perched (взгромоздился). It resembled the face of a sheep (овцы), and the voice, too, had a sheep-like quality (качество). Goldstein was delivering (обрушивал) his usual venomous (ядовитый) attack upon the doctrines of the Party — an attack so exaggerated (преувеличенный) and perverse (извращенный) that a child should have been able to see through it, and yet just plausible (правдоподобный) enough to fill (вызвать) one with an alarmed (тревожный) feeling that other people, less level-headed (уравновешенный) than oneself, might be taken in by it[8]. He was abusing (ругал) Big Brother, he was denouncing (обличал) the dictatorship of the Party, he was demanding (требовал) the immediate (немедленный) conclusion (заключение) of peace with Eurasia, he was advocating freedom of speech, freedom of the Press, freedom of assembly, freedom of thought, he was crying hysterically that the revolution had been betrayed (предана) — and all this in rapid polysyllabic (многосложной) speech which was a sort of parody of the habitual style of the orators of the Party, and even contained Newspeak words: more Newspeak words, indeed, than any Party member would normally use in real life. And all the while (и все это время), lest (чтобы) one should be in any doubt as to the reality, which Goldstein’s specious claptrap covered, behind his head on the telescreen there marched the endless columns of the Eurasian army — row after row of solid-looking men with expressionless (невыразительный) Asiatic faces, who swam up to the surface (поверхность) of the screen and vanished (исчез), to be replaced (сменившись) by others exactly (точно) similar. The dull (глухой) rhythmic tramp (топот) of the soldiers’ boots formed the background (фон) to Goldstein’s bleating (блеющий) voice.

Before the Hate had proceeded (прошел) for thirty seconds, uncontrollable exclamations (возгласы) of rage (ярость) were breaking (вырвавшийся) out from half the people in the room. The self-satisfied sheep-like (овечье) face on the screen, and the terrifying (ужасающий) power of the Eurasian army behind it, were too much to be borne (невыносимый): besides (к тому же), the sight (вид) or even the thought of Goldstein produced fear (страх) and anger (гнев) automatically. He was an object of hatred (ненависть) more constant than either Eurasia or Eastasia, since (поскольку) when Oceania was at war with one of these Powers it was generally (обычно) at peace with the other. But what was strange (странно) was that although Goldstein was hated (ненавидел) and despised (презирал) by everybody, although every day and a thousand times a day, on platforms, on the telescreen, in newspapers, in books, his theories were refuted (опровергался), smashed (высмеивался), ridiculed (громился), held up (доводился) to the general gaze (взгляд) for the pitiful (жалкий) rubbish (дрянь) that they were — in spite (несмотря на) of all this, his influence never seemed to grow less. Always there were fresh (новый) dupes (обманщики) waiting to be seduced (был соблазнен) by him. A day never passed when spies (шпионы) and saboteurs (диверсанты) acting under his directions were not unmasked (разоблачал) by the Thought Police. He was the commander of a vast shadowy (теневой) army, an underground network (сеть) of conspirators dedicated (нацеленный) to the overthrow (свержение) of the State. The Brotherhood (братство), its name was supposed (предполагаемый) to be. There were also whispered (ходил) stories of a terrible book, a compendium (сборник) of all the heresies (ереси), of which Goldstein was the author and which circulated (распространялся) clandestinely (тайно) here and there. It was a book without a title. People referred (упоминал) to it, if at all, simply as THE BOOK. But one knew of such things only through vague (смутный) rumours (слухи). Neither the Brotherhood nor THE BOOK was a subject that any ordinary (рядовой) Party member would mention (упомянул бы) if there was a way of avoiding (избежать) it.

In its second minute the Hate rose to a frenzy (неистовство). People were leaping up (подпрыгивали вверх) and down in their places and shouting at the tops (верхушка) of their voices in an effort to drown (утонуть) the maddening (сводящий с ума) bleating (блеющий) voice that came from the screen. The little sandy-haired (рыжеволосый) woman had turned (превращаться) bright pink, and her mouth was opening and shutting like that of a landed fish. Even O’Brien’s heavy face was flushed (раскраснелся). He was sitting very straight (прямо) in his chair, his powerful chest swelling (вздымался) and quivering (подрагивал) as though (как будто) he were standing up (противостоял) to the assault (натиск) of a wave. The dark-haired girl behind Winston had begun crying out «Swine! Swine! Swine!» and suddenly she picked up (схватил) a heavy Newspeak dictionary and flung (швырнул) it at the screen. It struck (ударил) Goldstein’s nose and bounced off (отскочил); the voice continued inexorably (неумолимо). In a lucid (ясный) moment Winston found that he was shouting with the others and kicking (бьет) his heel (пятка) violently against the rung (спинка) of his chair. The horrible thing about the Two Minutes Hate was not that one was obliged (обязан) to act a part, but, on the contrary, that it was impossible to avoid joining (присоединиться) in. Within (в течение) thirty seconds any pretence (притворство) was always unnecessary (излишне). A hideous (отвратительный) ecstasy of fear and vindictiveness (мстительность), a desire to kill, to torture (пытать), to smash (разбивать) faces in with a sledgehammer (кувалда), seemed to flow (пронизывал) through the whole group of people like an electric current (ток), turning one even against one’s will into a grimacing, screaming (кричащий) lunatic (сумасшедший). And yet (И все же) the rage (гнев) that one felt was an abstract, undirected emotion which could be switched (переключать) from one object to another like the flame of a blowlamp (паяльная лампа). Thus (таким образом), at one moment (в какой-то момент) Winston’s hatred (ненависть) was not turned against Goldstein at all, but, on the contrary, against Big Brother, the Party, and the Thought Police; and at such moments his heart went out (тянулся) to the lonely (одинокий), derided (осмеянный) heretic (еретик) on the screen, sole (единственный) guardian (хранитель) of truth and sanity (здравомыслие) in a world of lies. And yet (и все же уже) the very next instant (мгновение) he was at one (заодно) with the people about him, and all that was said of Goldstein seemed to him to be true. At those moments his secret loathing (ненависть) of Big Brother changed into adoration (обожание), and Big Brother seemed to tower up (возвышался), an invincible (непобедимый), fearless (бесстрашный) protector (защитник), standing like a rock (скала) against the hordes (орды) of Asia, and Goldstein, in spite of his isolation, his helplessness, and the doubt that hung (витал) about his very existence, seemed like some sinister (зловещий) enchanter (чародей), capable (способный) by the mere power of his voice of wrecking (разрушить) the structure of civilization.

It was even possible, at moments, to switch (переключить) one’s hatred (ненависть) this way or that by a voluntary act. Suddenly, by the sort of violent effort with which one wrenches (отрывает) one’s head away from the pillow (подушка) in a nightmare (кошмарный сон), Winston succeeded (удался) in transferring (перенести) his hatred from the face on the screen to the dark-haired girl behind him. Vivid (яркие), beautiful hallucinations flashed (пронесся) through his mind. He would flog (забьет) her to death with a rubber (резиновый) truncheon (дубинка). He would tie (привяжет) her naked (голый) to a stake (столб) and shoot (стрелять) her full of arrows (стрелы) like Saint Sebastian. He would ravish (насиловал) her and cut (перерезал) her throat (горло) at the moment of climax. Better than before (раньше), moreover (более того), he realized WHY it was that he hated her. He hated her because she was young and pretty and sexless, because he wanted to go to bed with her and would never do so, because round her sweet supple (гибкий) waist (талия), which seemed (казалось) to ask you to encircle (обнять) it with your arm, there was only the odious scarlet (алый) sash (кушак), aggressive symbol of chastity (целомудрие).

The Hate rose to its climax (апогей). The voice of Goldstein had become an actual sheep’s bleat (блеяние овец), and for an instant (на мгновение) the face changed into that of a sheep. Then the sheep-face (баранье лицо) melted (растворился) into the figure of a Eurasian soldier who seemed to be advancing (наступал), huge (огромный) and terrible (страшный), his sub-machine gun (автомат) roaring (ревущий), and seeming to spring out (выпрыгивающий) of the surface of the screen, so that some of the people in the front row actually flinched backwards (отшатнулся назад) in their seats.

But in the same moment, drawing (вызвав) a deep sigh (вздох) of relief (облегчение) from everybody, the hostile (враждебный) figure melted (слился) into the face of Big Brother, black-haired, black-moustachio’d, full of power and mysterious calm (спокойствие), and so vast that it almost filled up the screen. Nobody heard what Big Brother was saying. It was merely a few words of encouragement (ободрение), the sort of words that are uttered (произносимый) in the din (грохот) of battle, not distinguishable (различимый) individually but restoring (восстанавливающий) confidence (доверие) by the fact of being spoken. Then the face of Big Brother faded away (исчез) again, and instead (вместо) the three slogans of the Party stood out (выступил) in bold (жирный) capitals (буквы):

But the face of Big Brother seemed to persist (сохраняться) for several seconds on the screen, as though the impact (воздействие) that it had made on everyone’s eyeballs (глазные яблоки) was too vivid (яркий) to wear off (исчезнуть) immediately. The little sandy-haired woman had flung (броситься) herself forward over the back of the chair in front of her. With a tremulous (дрожащий) murmur (бормотание) that sounded like «My Saviour (Спаситель)!» she extended (протянул) her arms towards the screen. Then she buried (закрыл) her face in her hands. It was apparent that she was uttering (произносить) a prayer (молитва).

At this moment the entire (вся) group of people broke (разразился) into a deep, slow, rhythmical chant (скандирование) of «B-B!…B-B!» — over and over again (снова и снова), very slowly, with a long pause between the first «B» and the second — a heavy, murmurous (ропотный) sound, somehow (какой-то) curiously savage (дикий), in the background of which one seemed to hear the stamp (топот) of naked (босой) feet (ноги) and the throbbing (стук) of tomtoms (тамтамы). For perhaps as much as thirty seconds they kept it up (продолжал это делать). It was a refrain that was often heard in moments of overwhelming emotion. Partly (отчасти) it was a sort of hymn to the wisdom and majesty (величие) of Big Brother, but still more it was an act of self-hypnosis (самовнушение), a deliberate (преднамеренный) drowning (заглушение) of consciousness (сознание) by means (с помощью) of rhythmic noise. Winston’s entrails (внутренности) seemed to grow cold (похолодел). In the Two Minutes Hate he could not help sharing (участвовать) in the general delirium (бред), but this sub-human (недочеловеческое) chanting of «B-B!…B-B!» always filled him with horror. Of course he chanted (изменился) with the rest (остальные): it was impossible to do otherwise (иначе). To dissemble (скрывать) your feelings, to control your face, to do what everyone else was doing, was an instinctive reaction. But there was a space (промежуток) of a couple (пара) of seconds during which the expression of his eyes might conceivably (возможно) have betrayed (выдал) him. And it was exactly (именно) at this moment that the significant (важный) thing happened — if, indeed, it did happen.

Momentarily (на мгновение) he caught (поймал) O’Brien’s eye. O’Brien had stood up. He had taken off his spectacles and was in the act of resettling (водружение) them on his nose with his characteristic gesture (жест). But there was a fraction (доля) of a second when their eyes met, and for as long as (столько времени, сколько) it took to happen Winston knew — yes, he KNEW! — that O’Brien was thinking the same thing as himself. An unmistakable message had passed. It was as though (как будто) their two minds had opened and the thoughts were flowing (перетекал) from one into the other through their eyes. «I am with you,» O’Brien seemed to be saying to him. «I know precisely (точно) what you are feeling. I know all about your contempt (презрение), your hatred, your disgust (отвращение). But don’t worry (беспокоиться), I am on your side!» And then the flash (вспышка) of intelligence (отвращение) was gone, and O’Brien’s face was as inscrutable (непроницаемый) as everybody else’s.

That was all, and he was already uncertain (не уверен) whether it had happened. Such incidents never had any sequel (продолжение). All that they did was to keep alive (поддерживал) in him the belief, or hope, that others besides himself were the enemies of the Party. Perhaps the rumours (слухи) of vast underground conspiracies (заговоры) were true after all-perhaps the Brotherhood really existed! It was impossible, in spite of (несмотря на) the endless arrests and confessions (признания) and executions, to be sure that the Brotherhood was not simply a myth. Some days he believed in it, some days not. There was no evidence (доказательство), only fleeting (мимолетный) glimpses (проблески) that might mean anything or nothing: snatches (обрывки) of overheard (подслушанный) conversation (разговор), faint (слабый) scribbles (каракули) on lavatory (туалет) walls — once, even, when two strangers met, a small movement of the hand which had looked as though it might be a signal of recognition (узнавание). It was all guesswork (догадка): very likely he had imagined (вообразил) everything. He had gone back to his cubicle (кабинка) without looking at O’Brien again. The idea of following up their momentary contact hardly crossed his mind. It would have been inconceivably (невообразимо) dangerous even if he had known how to set about doing it. For a second, two seconds, they had exchanged (обменялся) an equivocal (двусмысленный) glance (взгляд), and that was the end of the story. But even that was a memorable event, in the locked (замкнутый) loneliness (одиночество) in which one had to live.

Winston roused himself (встрепенулся) and sat up straighter (сел прямее). He let out a belch (издал отрыжку). The gin was rising from his stomach (желудок).

His eyes re-focused on the page. He discovered that while (пока) he sat helplessly (беспомощно) musing (размышляя) he had also been writing, as though (как бы) by automatic action. And it was no longer (уже) the same cramped (неразборчивый), awkward (неловкий) handwriting (почерк) as before. His pen had slid (скользил) voluptuously (сладострастно) over the smooth (гладкий) paper, printing in large neat (заглавный) capitals (буквы) —

DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER (ДОЛОЙ СТАРШЕГО

БРАТА)

DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER

DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER

DOWNWITH BIG BROTHER

DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER

over and over again, filling (заполняя) half a page.

He could not help feeling a twinge (приступ) of panic. It was absurd, since the writing of those particular (конкретный) words was not more dangerous than the initial (первоначальный) act of opening the diary, but for a moment he was tempted (искушенный) to tear out (вырвать) the spoiled (испорченный) pages and abandon (отказаться) the enterprise (предприятие) altogether (вообще).

He did not do so, however, because he knew that it was useless. Whether he wrote DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER, or whether he refrained from writing it, made no difference. Whether he went on with the diary, or whether he did not go on with it, made no difference. The Thought Police would get (достанет) him just the same (все равно). He had committed (совершил) — would still (все равно) have committed, even if he had never set pen to paper — the essential (важнейший) crime that contained all others in itself. Thoughtcrime, they called it. Thoughtcrime was not a thing that could be concealed (скрывать) for ever. You might dodge (уворачиваться) successfully for a while, even for years, but sooner or later they were bound to get (доберется) you.

It was always at night — the arrests invariably (неизменно) happened at night. The sudden jerk out (рывок) of sleep, the rough (грубый) hand shaking your shoulder (плечо), the lights glaring (яркий) in your eyes, the ring of hard faces round the bed. In the vast majority of cases there was no trial, no report (протокол) of the arrest. People simply disappeared, always during the night. Your name was removed (удалено) from the registers (реестры), every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out (стерт), your one-time existence was denied (отвергнут) and then forgotten. You were abolished, annihilated: VAPORIZED (ИСПАРЕНИЕ) was the usual word.

For a moment he was seized (охватил) by a kind of hysteria. He began writing in a hurried (торопливый) untidy (неаккуратный) scrawl (каракули) :

theyll shoot (пристрелят) me i don’t care theyll shoot me in the back of the neck (затылок) i dont care down with (долой) big brother they always shoot you in the back of the neck i dont care down with big brother.

He sat back in his chair, slightly (слегка) ashamed (стыдясь) of himself, and laid (отложил) down the pen. The next moment he started violently (яростно). There was a knocking (стук) at the door.

Already! He sat as still (неподвижно) as a mouse, in the futile (тщетный) hope that whoever it was might go away after a single attempt. But no, the knocking was repeated. The worst thing of all would be to delay (промедление). His heart was thumping (стучал) like a drum (барабан), but his face, from long habit, was probably expressionless (невыразительно). He got up (встал) and moved heavily towards the door.

 made for the stairs — (разг.) направился к лестнице

 Chinese rice-spirit — (разг.) — китайская рисовая водка

 forced-labour camp — (разг.) — концентрационный лагерь

 came home to him — (разг.) дошло до него

 Last night to the flicks — (разг.) — Вчера вечером ходил в кино

 It was nearly eleven hundred — (разг.) Было почти одиннадцать часов (здесь и далее время указывается по-военному)

 a small goatee beard — (разг.) маленькая бородка (козлиная)

 might be taken in by it — (разг.) могут и поверить этому

Chapter 2

As he put his hand to the door-knob (дверная ручка) Winston saw that he had left the diary open on the table. DOWN WITH BIG BROTHER was written all over (повсюду) it, in letters almost big enough to be legible (разборчивый) across the room. It was an inconceivably (невообразимо) stupid thing to have done. But, he realized, even in his panic he had not wanted to smudge (пачкать) the creamy (кремовый) paper by shutting (закрывая) the book while the ink (чернила) was wet (влажный).

He drew in his breath (перевел дыхание) and opened the door. Instantly (мгновенно) a warm wave of relief (облегчение) flowed (прокатился) through him. A colourless, crushed-looking (измученный) woman, with wispy (жидкий) hair and a lined (морщинистый) face, was standing outside.

«Oh, comrade,» she began in a dreary (тоскливый), whining (скулящий) sort of voice, «I thought I heard you come in. Do you think you could come across and have a look at our kitchen sink (раковина)? It’s got blocked up (заблокирован) and –»

It was Mrs Parsons, the wife of a neighbour on the same floor. («Mrs’ was a word somewhat (несколько) discountenanced (обесцениваемый) by the Party — you were supposed (должен был) to call everyone «comrade’ — but with some women one used it instinctively (инстинктивно) She was a woman of about thirty, but looking much older. One had the impression that there was dust (пыль) in the creases (складки) of her face. Winston followed her down the passage (проход). These amateur (любительский) repair (ремонтный) jobs were an almost daily irritation (раздражение). Victory Mansions (дома «Победы») were old flats, built in 1930 or thereabouts (около того), and were falling (разваливался) to pieces (куски). The plaster (штукатурка) flaked (осыпался) constantly from ceilings (потолки) and walls, the pipes (трубы) burst (лопался) in every hard frost (мороз), the roof (крыша) leaked (протекал) whenever (всякий раз) there was snow, the heating (отопление) system was usually running at half steam (оборот) when it was not closed down altogether (совсем) from motives of economy[1]. Repairs (ремонт), except what you could do for yourself, had to be sanctioned (должен был санкционироваться) by remote (удаленный) committees which were liable to hold up (могли задержать) even the mending (починка) of a window-pane (оконное стекло) for two years.

«Of course it’s only because Tom isn’t home,» said Mrs Parsons vaguely (неопределенно).

The Parsons’ flat was bigger than Winston’s, and dingy (грязноват) in a different way (по-другому). Everything had a battered (потрепанный), trampled-on (растоптанный) look, as though (как будто) the place had just (только что) been visited by some large violent (жестокий) animal. Games impedimenta (принадлежности) — hockey-sticks (хоккейные клюшки), boxing-gloves (боксерские перчатки), a burst (лопнувший) football, a pair (пара) of sweaty (потный) shorts (шорты) turned inside out — lay all over the floor (пол), and on the table there was a litter of dirty (грязный) dishes (посуда) and dog-eared exercise-books[2]. On the walls were scarlet banners of the Youth League and the Spies (шпионы), and a full-sized poster of Big Brother. There was the usual boiled-cabbage (вареная капуста) smell (запах), common to the whole building, but it was shot (простреливал) through by a sharper (более резкий) reek (запах) of sweat (пот), which — one knew this at the first sniff (вдох), though it was hard to say how — was the sweat of some person not present at the moment. In another room someone (кто-то) with a comb (расческа) and a piece of toilet paper was trying to keep tune (подстроиться) with the military music which was still issuing from the telescreen.

«It’s the children,» said Mrs Parsons, casting (бросив) a half-apprehensive (слегка встревоженный) glance (взгляд) at the door. «They haven’t been out today. And of course –»

She had a habit (привычка) of breaking off her sentences (предложения) in the middle. The kitchen sink (кухонная раковина) was full nearly to the brim (почти до краев) with filthy (грязный) greenish (зеленоватый) water which smelt (пахло) worse (хуже) than ever of cabbage. Winston knelt down (опустился на колени) and examined (осмотрел) the angle-joint (угловое соединение) of the pipe (трубы). He hated using his hands, and he hated bending down (наклоняться), which was always liable (склонный, ответственный) to start him coughing (кашель). Mrs Parsons looked on helplessly.

«Of course if Tom was home he’d put it right (исправил) in a moment,» she said. «He loves anything like that. He’s ever so good with his hands, Tom is.»

Parsons was Winston’s fellow-employee (коллега) at the Ministry of Truth. He was a fattish (толстоватый) but active man of paralyzing stupidity (тупость), a mass of imbecile (слабоумный) enthusiasms — one of those completely unquestioning (глупость), devoted drudges (тяжелая работа) on whom, more even than on the Thought Police, the stability of the Party depended. At thirty-five he had just (только что) been unwillingly (неохотно) evicted (исключил) from the Youth League, and before graduating (перейти) into the Youth League he had managed to stay on in the Spies for a year beyond the statutory age (установленного законом возраста). At the Ministry he was employed in some subordinate post for which intelligence was[3] not required (требовался), but on the other hand he was a leading figure on the Sports Committee and all the other committees engaged (занимающийся) in organizing community hikes (походы), spontaneous (стихийный) demonstrations, savings campaigns, and voluntary activities generally. He would inform you with quiet pride (гордость), between whiffs (затяжки) of his pipe (трубка), that he had put in an appearance (появлялся) at the Community Centre every evening for the past four years. An overpowering (невыносимый) smell (запах) of sweat (пота), a sort of unconscious (бессознательное) testimony (свидетельство) to the strenuousness (напряженность) of his life, followed him about wherever he went, and even remained behind him after he had gone.

«Have you got a spanner (гаечный ключ)?» said Winston, fiddling (вертя) with the nut (гайка) on the angle-joint (угловое соединение).

«A spanner,» said Mrs Parsons, immediately becoming invertebrate (беспозвоночный). «I don’t know, I’m sure. Perhaps the children –»

There was a trampling (раздался топот) of boots (сапоги) and another blast (удар) on the comb (расческа) as the children charged into (ворвался) the living-room. Mrs Parsons brought the spanner. Winston let out (выпустил) the water and disgustedly (с отвращением) removed the clot (комок) of human hair that had blocked up the pipe. He cleaned his fingers as best he could in the cold water from the tap (кран) and went back into the other room.

«Up with your hands!» («Руки вверх!») yelled (заорал) a savage (свирепый) voice.

A handsome (красивый), tough-looking (крепкий) boy of nine had popped up (выскочил) from behind the table and was menacing (угрожал) him with a toy (игрушечный) automatic pistol, while his small sister, about two years younger, made the same gesture (жест) with a fragment of wood (деревяшка). Both of them were dressed in the blue shorts, grey shirts (рубашки), and red neckerchiefs (шейные платки) which were the uniform of the Spies. Winston raised his hands above his head, but with an uneasy feeling, so vicious (порочный) was the boy’s demeanour (поведение), that it was not altogether (не совсем) a game.

«You’re a traitor (предатель)!» yelled (завопил) the boy. «You’re a thought-criminal! You’re a Eurasian spy (шпион)! I’ll shoot (застрелю) you, I’ll vaporize (испарю) you, I’ll send you to the salt mines (копи)!»

Suddenly they were both leaping (запрыгал) round him, shouting «Traitor!» and «Thought-criminal!» the little girl imitating her brother in every movement. It was somehow (как-то) slightly (слегка) frightening (пугающе), like the gambolling (резвость) of tiger cubs (детеныши) which will soon grow up into man-eaters (людоеды). There was a sort of calculating ferocity (свирепость) in the boy’s eye, a quite evident desire (желание) to hit (ударить) or kick (пинать) Winston and a consciousness (сознание) of being very nearly big enough to do so. It was a good job (хорошо) it was not a real pistol (пистолет) he was holding, Winston thought.

Mrs Parsons’ eyes flitted (перебегал) nervously from Winston to the children, and back again. In the better light of the livingroom (гостиная) he noticed with interest that there actually was dust (пыль) in the creases (складки) of her face.

«They do get (становиться) so noisy,» she said. «They’re disappointed (разочарован) because they couldn’t go to see the hanging (повешение), that’s what it is. I’m too busy to take them and Tom won’t be back from work in time.»

«Why can’t we go and see the hanging?» roared (взревел) the boy in his huge (громкий) voice.

«Want to see the hanging! Want to see the hanging!» chanted (пропел) the little girl, still capering (скача) round.

Some Eurasian prisoners, guilty (виновный) of war crimes, were to be hanged (повешен) in the Park that evening, Winston remembered. This happened about (примерно) once (раз) a month, and was a popular spectacle. Children always clamoured (требовал) to be taken to see it. He took his leave (покидать) of Mrs Parsons and made for the door. But he had not gone six steps down the passage (коридор) when something hit (ударить) the back of his neck (шея) an agonizingly painful (болезненный) blow (удар). It was as though a red-hot wire (провод) had been jabbed (воткнул) into him. He spun round (обернулся) just in time to see Mrs Parsons dragging (тащит) her son back into the doorway (дверной проем) while the boy pocketed (прятал) a catapult.

«Goldstein!» bellowed (заорал) the boy as the door closed on him. But what most struck (поразил) Winston was the look of helpless fright (испуг) on the woman’s greyish (сероватый) face.

Back in the flat he stepped quickly past the telescreen and sat down at the table again, still rubbing (потирая) his neck. The music from the telescreen had stopped. Instead (вместо этого), a clipped (отрывистый) military voice was reading out, with a sort of brutal relish (смак), a description of the armaments of the new Floating Fortress which had just been anchored (встал на якорь) between Iceland and the Faroe lslands.

With those children, he thought, that wretched (несчастный) woman must lead a life of terror. Another year, two years, and they would be watching her night and day for symptoms of unorthodoxy. Nearly all children nowadays were horrible. What was worst of all was that by means (с помощью) of such organizations as the Spies they were systematically turned into ungovernable little savages (дикари), and yet this produced in them no tendency whatever to rebel (бунтовать) against the discipline of the Party. On the contrary, they adored the Party and everything connected with it. The songs, the processions, the banners, the hiking (походы), the drilling (учения) with dummy (муляжи) rifles, the yelling (выкрикивание) of slogans, the worship (поклонение) of Big Brother — it was all a sort of glorious game to them. All their ferocity (свирепость) was turned outwards, against the enemies of the State, against foreigners, traitors, saboteurs, thought-criminals. It was almost normal for people over thirty to be frightened (бояться) of their own children. And with good reason (и на то были веские причины), for hardly a week (не проходило и недели) passed in which «The Times’ did not carry a paragraph describing how some eavesdropping (подслушивающий) little sneak (проныра) –’child hero’ was the phrase generally used — had overheard (подслушал) some compromising remark and denounced (донес) its parents to the Thought Police.

The sting (жало) of the catapult bullet (пуля) had worn off (прошло). He picked up (взял) his pen half-heartedly (нерешительно), wondering (удивляясь) whether (ли) he could find something more to write in the diary. Suddenly he began thinking of O’Brien again.

Years ago — how long was it? Seven years it must be — he had dreamed that he was walking through a pitch-dark (кромешно-темный) room. And someone sitting to one side of him had said as he passed: «We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness.» It was said very quietly, almost casually (небрежно) — a statement (утверждение), not a command. He had walked on without pausing. What was curious (любопытно) was that at the time, in the dream, the words had not made much impression on him. It was only later and by degrees (постепенно) that they had seemed to take on significance (значение). He could not now remember whether it was before or after having the dream that he had seen O’Brien for the first time, nor could he remember when he had first identified the voice as O’Brien’s. But at any rate (во всяком случае) the identification existed. It was O’Brien who had spoken to him out of the dark.

Winston had never been able to feel sure — even after this morning’s flash (вспышка) of the eyes it was still impossible to be sure whether O’Brien was a friend or an enemy. Nor did it even seem to matter greatly. There was a link (связь) of understanding between them, more important than affection (привязанность) or partisanship. «We shall meet in the place where there is no darkness,» he had said. Winston did not know what it meant, only that in some way or another it would come true (это сбудется).

The voice from the telescreen paused. A trumpet (трубный) call, clear and beautiful, floated (разнесся) into the stagnant (застоявшийся) air. The voice continued raspingly (хрипло):

«Attention! Your attention, please! A newsflash (новость) has this moment arrived from the Malabar front. Our forces in South India have won a glorious victory. I am authorized (уполномочен) to say that the action we are now reporting may well bring (приблизить) the war within measurable (ощутимый) distance of its end. Here is the newsflash –»

Bad news coming, thought Winston. And sure enough, following on a gory description (описание) of the annihilation of a Eurasian army, with stupendous (огромный) figures of killed and prisoners, came the announcement that, as from next week, the chocolate ration[4] would be reduced (снижен) from thirty grammes to twenty.

Winston belched (рыгнул) again. The gin was wearing off (заканчивался), leaving a deflated (сдутый) feeling. The telescreen — perhaps to celebrate the victory, perhaps to drown (заглушить) the memory of the lost chocolate — crashed (врезался) into «Oceania, «tis for thee’ (это для тебя). You were supposed to stand to attention[5]. However, in his present position he was invisible (невидимый).

«Oceania, «tis for thee’ gave way to lighter music. Winston walked over to the window, keeping his back to the telescreen. The day was still cold and clear. Somewhere far away (где-то вдалеке) a rocket (реактивный) bomb exploded (взорвался) with a dull (глухой), reverberating (раскатистый) roar (грохот). About twenty or thirty of them a week were falling on London at present.

Down (внизу) in the street the wind flapped (трепал) the torn (разорванный) poster to and fro (туда-сюда), and the word INGSOC fitfully (прерывисто) appeared and vanished (исчезал). Ingsoc. The sacred principles of Ingsoc. Newspeak, doublethink, the mutability (изменчивость) of the past. He felt (казалось) as though he were wandering (блуждает) in the forests of the sea bottom, lost (затерянный) in a monstrous world where he himself was the monster. He was alone. The past was dead, the future was unimaginable (невообразимо). What certainty (уверенность) had he that a single human creature (существо) now living was on his side? And what way of knowing that the dominion (господство) of the Party would not endure (терпеть) FOR EVER? Like an answer, the three slogans on the white face of the Ministry of Truth came back to him:

He took a twenty-five cent piece (монета) out of his pocket. There, too, in tiny clear lettering, the same slogans were inscribed, and on the other face of the coin the head of Big Brother. Even from the coin the eyes pursued (преследовал) you. On coins, on stamps (марки), on the covers (обложки) of books, on banners, on posters, and on the wrappings (обертки) of a cigarette packet (пачка) — everywhere. Always the eyes watching you and the voice enveloping (обволакивающий) you. Asleep (спит) or awake (бодрствует), working or eating, indoors or out of doors, in the bath or in bed — no escape (спасения нет). Nothing was your own except the few cubic centimetres inside your skull (череп).

The sun had shifted (повернулся) round, and the myriad (мириады) windows of the Ministry of Truth, with the light no longer shining (сияющий) on them, looked grim (мрачно) as the loopholes (бойницы) of a fortress (крепость). His heart quailed (затрепетал) before the enormous (огромный) pyramidal shape (форма). It was too strong, it could not be stormed (штурмовать). A thousand rocket bombs would not batter (разрушить) it down. He wondered (задался вопросом) again for whom he was writing the diary. For the future, for the past — for an age that might be imaginary (воображаемый). And in front of him there lay not death but annihilation. The diary would be reduced (превратился) to ashes (пепел) and himself to vapour (пар). Only the Thought Police would read what he had written, before they wiped it out of existence and out of memory. How could you make appeal to the future when not a trace of you, not even an anonymous word scribbled on a piece of paper, could physically survive?

The telescreen struck (пробил) fourteen. He must leave in ten minutes. He had to be back at work by fourteen-thirty.

Curiously (любопытно), the chiming (звон) of the hour seemed to have put new heart into him[6]. He was a lonely (одинокий) ghost (призрак) uttering (изрекающий) a truth that nobody would ever hear. But so long as he uttered (произносил) it, in some obscure (непонятный) way the continuity (непрерывность) was not broken (не нарушался). It was not by making yourself heard but by staying sane that you carried on the human heritage (наследие). He went back to the table, dipped (обмакнул) his pen, and wrote:

To the future or to the past, to a time when thought is free, when men are different from one another and do not live alone — to a time when truth exists and what is done cannot be undone:

From the age of uniformity (единообразие), from the age of solitude (одиночество), from the age of Big Brother, from the age of doublethink — greetings (приветствую)!

He was already dead, he reflected (размышлял). It seemed to him that it was only now, when he had begun to be able to formulate his thoughts, that he had taken the decisive (решающий) step. The consequences (последствия) of every act are included in the act itself. He wrote:

Thoughtcrime does not entail (влечет) death: thoughtcrime IS death.

Now he had recognized himself as a dead man it became important to stay alive (в живых) as long as possible. Two fingers of his right hand were inkstained (испачкан чернилами). It was exactly (именно) the kind of detail that might betray (выдать) you. Some nosing (любопытный) zealot (фанатик) in the Ministry (a woman, probably: someone like the little sandy-haired woman or the dark-haired girl from the Fiction Department) might start wondering (удивляться) why he had been writing during the lunch interval, why he had used an old-fashioned (старомодный) pen, WHAT he had been writing — and then drop (оставить) a hint (подсказка) in the appropriate quarter[7]. He went to the bathroom and carefully scrubbed (смыл) the ink away with the gritty (песчаный) darkbrown (темно-коричневый) soap which rasped (скрипучий) your skin like sandpaper (наждачная бумага) and was therefore (поэтому) well adapted (подходил) for this purpose.

He put the diary away in the drawer (ящик стола). It was quite useless to think of hiding (прятать) it, but he could at least make sure whether or not its existence had been discovered. A hair laid (проложенный) across the page-ends was too obvious. With the tip (кончик) of his finger he picked up (подобрал) an identifiable grain (крупинка) of whitish (беловатый) dust (пыль) and deposited (отложил) it on the corner of the cover (обложка), where it was bound to be shaken off[8] if the book was moved.

 from motives of economy — (разг.) из соображений экономии

 dog-eared exercise-books — (разг.) тетрадки с разлохмаченными и загнутыми уголками

 in some subordinate post for which intelligence was — (разг.) на какой-то незначительной должности, для которой не требовалось особого ума (сообразительности)

 the chocolate ration — (разг.) норма выдачи (паек) шоколада

 to stand to attention — (воен.) встать по стойке смирно

 seemed to have put new heart into him — (разг.) казалось, вдохновило его

 in the appropriate quarter — в соответствующем месте

 where it was bound to be shaken off — (разг.) откуда она обязательно свалится